Bring Cookies

Cricket McRae

In the wake of the release of Spin a Wicked Web I've been doing a lot of signings. You know the drill.

Many authors hate signings, citing the lonely and depressing aspects. And there's plenty of advice about how to get attention during signings. One woman I know walks around the store passing out bookmarks and practically demanding people buy her books. Another has a life-size dummy of one of her characters sitting in the chair beside her.

Some folks like to sign with other authors so they have someone to talk to. It's especially nice if you're doing some kind of panel discussion or presentation that will attract attendance. And let’s face it: It is a lot of fun to sit around and talk to your fellow authors, and you get to leverage off their fans.

But I like signings on my own, too. Sometimes one person is more approachable than two or three. When I’m alone, I’m talking to anyone who walks by – even if it’s not about my books. Eventually, it becomes about my books.

Here are a few other things I try to keep in mind:

Send out information about the signing to local media, friends, family, various personal web pages and social networking sites, professional organizations, community calendars, booktour.com and upcoming.yahoo.com, and post the event on Craigslist the day of (I don’t know how effective the Craigslist postings are – anyone else try it?). This seems like a big DUH, but a lot of people don’t do it. And it is time comsuming

Make sure there’s plenty of signage by the front door or in the front window (I try to always send posters at least a week in advance) and a big sign on the signing table that shows the book cover and says that I’m the author. Me, me, me. Even with the sign, people look straight at it and then ask if I know where to find the latest Twilight book.

Talk – about your books as much as possible, but also about other books, what the customer likes to read, about the weather, about writing, about whatever. Often, and sometimes inexplicably, this leads to a sale. Plus, you get to meet lots of fascinating people, which I find is a way to fill my creative well. I also find experts for future research. And yes, sometimes I feel like a greeter at Walmart.

Give people something to take away, whether they buy a book or not. There are tons of unique giveaways, from lip balms to flower seeds to bullet casings. Most are a bit of an expense, though. I know authors who have brochures made, but that feels like overkill to me. So I focus on bookmarks and business cards. My business cards are actually 2½”x3½”trading cards, slick and fun to handle, with my book covers on one side and my contact info on the other.

I also take copies of my all-purpose media packet which includes a short blurb about each book, ordering information, a page of reviews and endorsements, and my bio with picture. I don’t give them to everyone, but if someone from a school or a library or book club comes by I have them ready.

Stand up. Standing puts you on eye level with people walking by, which makes an author both more accessible and harder to discount.

Bring cookies. Seriously. Every time I bring a plate of homemade oatmeal molasses cookies to a signing, by the end of the day I’m hoarse from talking to people. Lots of people have a cookie and don’t buy a book, but you never know. Men who would never have bought a home crafting mystery stop by for a cookie, then later bring their wives over to talk to me. One woman came up to the table and said, “My husband sent me over for one of your cookies because he wants another one and doesn’t want you to think he’s a pig.” One thing led to another – and she bought a book.

Don’t think about selling anything. Seriously. It takes all the pressure off, and it’s a lot easier to talk to people. They can sense it, too. The less I try to sell, the more books go out the door.

And finally, those stares that go right through you, the sudden veering away from the signing table when someone sees you there with a pile of books, the “No!” in the middle of your hello – don’t take any of it personally. People have bad days. People are in a hurry. People get tired of being sold to. People are short on money. Most are nice as pie and generous with their time. Concentrate on that huge majority and let the few exceptions slide right off your psyche.

What have you learned from signings? Any hints, tips or advice? Anything you’d tell the rest of us NOT to do? Do you even think signings are a worthwhile use of an author’s time?

Round and Round

Cricket McRae

The high temperature last Thursday was 58 degrees in my Colorado town in the foothills. For nearly a month before that temps were in the high 90’s every day, and then suddenly there was snow along I-70. My vegetables are ripening in the garden, but there could be a hard freeze in a month and everything green will turn brown again. And then white.

Transition. Anticipation.

When I worked at the software mother ship, my job changed every six months. There were always new challenges, some of them stressful. The only constant was change. But, like seasons, products had their cycles, from concept through execution to market. Going through that cycle sometimes had the feel of trying to stay on my feet on a surface of rolling logs. Risks were encouraged, demands made and success rewarded. It could be a little scary, but was also energizing.

At least for a while. Then the product cycles gave way to a homogenized lump of constant upgrades and daily updates available on the Web. The big sign on the wall that said “that’s how we’ve always done it,” in a circle with a line through it came down. Innovation slowed. It got to be a grind.

I left and started a soap making business. What a blast: researching, developing new formulas, making and updating the Web site, learning about online marketing and selling, creating packaging, experimenting with production methods and efficiency, and finally achieving a certain level of success.

But once the creative side was more or less done, my little toiletry business became like a factory job, pretty much the same every day. Kind of made me itch.

Writing is my perfect occupation. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about how lucky I am. Creating a book has a cycle, and so does promoting. I’ve just finished the third in my Home Crafting mystery series, Spin a Wicked Web, and am hitting the promotion for Heaven Preserve Us hard. I’m beginning to write the fourth in the series, and developing the backbone for a whole new series.

As writers, we get to wear so many hats. Every day is different. Every page is different. Our characters alter and grow, and new characters come along. We learn new things as we research, and meet new people all the time.

As long as I'm willing to push myself, it will always be a challenge. Who could ask for more than that?

Speaking Out, Keeping Mum? How My Upbringing is Detrimental to My Book Sales

by Julia Buckley

Today I took two of my classes to the library so that our "cybrarian" could show them all of the latest miraculous research tools, most of which, of course, are online. (Not that they dismiss print sources, which are still very much available and attractively displayed).

While demonstrating to the students how to find the copyright and publisher information inside a book, she said, "And did you know we had a published author in the room?" My students stared at her blankly. They did not know. The librarian took the copy of my book, which they loyally display on the counter, and held it up for the girls, and they regarded me for a time as though I were a new zoo animal.

"I can't believe you haven't told your students!" our librarians enthused.

But of course I would never tell my students that I've written a book. It feels, to me, like a conflict of interest--like I'm abusing my educator's podium to try to rack up some sales, and so I've never done it. Some people say that this is ridiculous--that I can always just mention it in passing--and they are probably right. But I know I never will.

The last time I had an eye doctor appointment and he stood over me, breathing into my face and examining my pupils right up close with a blinding light, he talked about how much he loved reading--especially mysteries. There would be, I knew, no better opportunity to hop right in there and say, "What I coincidence! I write mysteries! Here's one that I happen to have in my purse."

But I didn't. And the moment passed. And I lost my opportunity. The reasons for this are rooted in my upbringing: in the strict Catholic world of my childhood, you did not talk about yourself (vanity), and you certainly did not brag about your achievements (pride). And even though I have my fair share of both vanity and pride, the reticence of those years is permanently ingrained upon me. I don't speak up. I am NOT a good saleswoman. I doubt I will ever be. I cannot change my nature. My only chance is to try to write books so good that people will hear about them through word of mouth. (Someone else's mouth, of course).

Even that is sort of a vain thought. See? Sister Theodora would be proud of my humility, but I'm sure she'd wince at my book sales. :)

Photo link here